English Colonies in an Age of Empire Review

define Mercantilism

• Economic system where government intervenes in the economy to increase national wealth

Balance of trade with exports greater than imports

what were the 4 mercantilism regulations passed by gov?

1. Navigation Acts

2. Enumerated Products

3. /4. Subsidies

What was the navigations act?

• Aimed to end Dutch dominance in overseas trade

• All trade needed to be conducted in english or colonial ships

  • Rapid growth in New England's shipping industry

  • Decrease foreign dependence for goods

what was the enumerated products act?

• Colonies products only shipped to certain locations

  • Tobacco sugar indigo and rice are only shipped to england

• Foreign goods pass through England before going to colonies

  • High shipping taxes

  • Encourage colonists to buy english made goods

What were the subsides in 3 and 4 of the mercantilist regulations?

• 3 and 4  regulations - started smuggling goods

• Advantage of english made goods for colonial market

• Linen and gunpowder sold cheaper to colonies using gov money

• Colonies cannot produce certain goods

  • Wool, felt hats, iron

What was New Englands role in trade?

• No staple crop

• Shipping

• Exported goods to sugar islands

  • Traded for sugar to produce rum

  • Traded rum for slaves in Africa

What were the most valuable colonial crops?

1. Sugar from west indies

2. Tobacco from Chesapeake colonies

3. Rice + indigo from South Carolina

4. Wheat from middle colonies

What did Americans import from England?

• Weapons, woolen cloth, knives, jewelry

  • Used in indian villages

• British merchants gave credit to colonists

  • Usually used by tobacco planters

How did manners and etiquette develop in the colonies?

Wanted to be refined like British so:

• Americans Imported courtesy books

  • Rules of polite behavior

  • Men - social rank, cleanliness, respect for others feelings

    • High literacy rates - 70% of men in NE

• Women's boarding schools for “Polite Education"

  • French, music, dancing, fancy needlework

How did colonists begin to use their money as Americans economy became more stable?

• Built “grand houses” to show their refined way of life

• Consumption in goods increased in comparison to other generations

What was the enlightenment?

• Universe operated by natural laws humans can discover

  • Scientific advances

• Less reliance on religion

  • Power of reason

What was the great awakening?

• Originated in Scotland and enlgand

• Evangelical preachers Toured through colonies

  • Inspired revivals in the great awakening

• strengthened religion and made more emotional

  • slaves could go to church

Who were 2 relevant figures in the great awakening?

• George Whitefield/Jonathan Edwards

  • Evangelical preachers

Old Lights

Traditional conservatives that rejected the revivals

New Lights

• Converted from new revivals

• Believed they needed to form new churches

  • More emotional

Dominion of New England

• Created by King Charles II brother - James Duke of York

  • Failed plan to combine 8 northern colonies into a single large province ruled by a royal appointee

    • Sir Edmund Andros appointed

    • Ended when James stepped down from the throne

Lords of Trade

• Created by James Duke of York

• A group of nobles who served as Royal Advisors to oversee colonial affairs

Glorious Revolution

• James II wanted to convert everyone to catholic

• Parliament invited protestants from the Netherlands like William of Orange to take over

• James fled to France ending the bloodless revolt

• Results in colonies against catholic people in power

What was the English bill of rights and its affects on the colonies?

• • Limited monarchs power and gave parliament more power

  • Guaranteed rights like petition, fair trial, no cruel punishment

  • Shaped colonies perspective on consent by the governed and liberty

Salutary Neglect

• Relaxed trade laws for colonies

• Started more self governance

• William focused on other things

virtual representation

• British idea → Parliament represents all British subjects, even without direct voting.

Actual Representation

Colonial idea → People should elect their own representatives who know their local interests

What conflict influenced the American revolution?

• colonists weren’t represented in parliament

  • laws and regulations decided by British not colonists

• Colonists: “No taxation without representation.”